Rolled sheet dispenser blank



Dec. 25, 1962 H. WARP 3,070,273

ROLLED SHEET DISPENSER BLANK Filed Aug. 26, 1958 INVENTOR:

H A R OLD WA R P BY ATT:YS

United States Patent Otifice 3,070,273 Patented Dec. 25, 1962 3,070,273 ROLLED SHEET DISPENSER BLANK Harold Warp, Chicago, 11]., assignor to Flex-O-Glass, Inc,

a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 26, 1958, Ser. No. 757,284 Claims. (Cl. 225-58) This invention relates to rolled sheet dispensers and in particular to a blank for forming such dispensers.

Rolled sheet material, such as .001" thick polyethylene, may be dispensed by placing the rolled sheet in a suitable enclosure and drawing the end of the sheet out- Wardly while retaining the remainder of the roll within the enclosure. The enclosure is provided with a ser rated or toothed tearing edge disposed to be adjacent the portion of the sheet being withdrawn, permitting the withdrawn portion to be torn from the roll by drawing it transversely into the toothed tearing edge.

An important factor in the successful marketing of such rolled sheet material is the provision of an economical dispenser enclosure having an attractive appearance and arranged for ready and proper withdrawal and tearing of the desired end portion of the rolled sheet material. The instant invention is concerned with means for forming such a dispenser.

Thus, the principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved means for forming a dispenser adapted to dispense rolled sheet material. I

Another object is to provide such a means comprising a new and improved blank.

A further object is to provide such a blank suitable for forming a plurality of such dispensers.

' Still another object of the invention is'to provide such a blank formed in a new and improved manner.

Yet another object is to provide a new and improved rolled sheet dispenser.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

PEG. 1 is an isometric view of a new and improved blank embodying the invention, as during extrusion thereof from a suitable extrusion apparatus;

FIG. 2. is an end elevation of the blank;

FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the blank subsequent to its being separated into individual dispenser portions;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the separated portions of the blank as shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a new and improved completed dispenser.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, as disclosed in the drawing, a new and improved blank generally designated 10 for use in forming a rolled sheet dispenser 11 is formed by a suitable extruding apparatus 12. Types of such extruding apparatus are Well-known in the art and require no further description here.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 through 3, blank 10 is extruded from apparatus 12 to define a flat, longitudinally extending mid-portion 13 and opposite, inturned side portions 14 and 15. The side portions comprise mirror images of each other. More specifically, side portion 14 comprises a longitudinally extending edge 16, a segmentally cylindrical portion 17 extending from edge 16 approximately 270 degrees, and a reversely curved connecting portion 18 continuing from segmentally cylindrical portion 17 and defining with edge 16 a longitudinally extending opening 19. Side portion comprises a reversely similar edge 20, a segmentally cylindrical portion 21, and a reversely curved connecting portion 22 defining with edge an opening 23.

Blank 10 may be extruded of suitable plastic material such as polystyrene. The wall thickness of the segmentally cylindrical portions 17 and 21 is preferably sulficiently thin to permit ready constriction of these por tions such as to decrease the spacing of the portions defining the respective openings 19 and 23. Illustratively, where the blank is formed of polystyrene plastic, the wall thickness of the segmentally cylindrical portions may be in the order of .025". The wall thickness of the connecting portions 13 and 22 and mid-portion 13 is preferably substantially greater than the wall thickness of the segmentally cylindrical portions, and may be in the order of .035". Herein, the radius of the segmentally cylindrical portions is approximately the lateral extent of mid-portion 13 is approximately /2", the spacing between the connecting portions and the associated edge is approximately 1", and the width of the blank, as measured from an outermost portion 17a of segmentally cylindrical portion 17 to the corresponding outermost portion 21a of segmentally cylindrical portion 21, is approximately 4 /8.

As blank material is extruded from apparatus 12, it is cut transversely at longitudinally spaced intervals corresponding to the desired length of dispenser 11. The re- 'sultant blank, as seen in FIG. 3, isthen separated into two portions by a Zigzag cutting of. the blank along the longitudinal center line thereof. When so cut, as seen in FiGS. 4 and 5, the blank becomes a pair of dispensers 11 each having a generally C-shaped cross section and provided with a projecting toothed edge 24. I

Thus, each cut length of blank 10 provides two improved dispensers 11 of substantially identical construction. Each dispenser comprises a readily constrictible "roll-carrying portion defined by the relatively thin walled, segmentally cylindrical portion thereof, and a properly rigid sheet tearing means defined by the relatively thick walled connecting portion and one-half of the blank mid-portion provided with the tearing edge. Through use of blank 10, the manufacture of dispenser 11 is extremely inexpensive. The resultant dispenser provides highly desirable improved facility in dispensing rolled sheet material and presents a highly attractive design tending to provide improved marketability. Further, by varying the configuration of the tearing edges 24, the resultant dispensers may be adapted specifically for use with different types of rolled sheet material, such as waxed paper, aluminum foil, and other plastic materials.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A blank for use in forming a pair of elongated dispensers having a generally C-shaped transverse cross section and a toothed tearing edge for dispensing discrete portions of a rolled sheet, comprising an elongated sheet of resilient material having a first longitudinal edge, a first constrictible segmentally cylindrical portion extending from said edge over degrees, a first connecting portion continuing from said segmentally cylindrical portion and defining with said longitudinal edge a longitudinally extending opening, a fiat portion continuing; from said connecting portion and extending generally parallel to and outwardly away from the axis of said segmentally cylindrical portion, said flat portion having a preselected width equal to at least twice the width of the tearing edges of the dispensers whereby said portion may be severed longitudinally to define concurrently each of the toothed edge portions, a second longitudinal edge parallel to and spaced from said first longitudinal edge, a second constrictible segmentally cylindrical portion extending from said second edge over 180 degrees, and a second connecting portion continuing from said second segmentally cylindrical portion and defining with said second longitudinal edge a longitudinally extending opening, said second connecting portion joining with said flat portion to extend the fiat portion generally parallel to and outwardly away from the axis of the second segmentally cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portions having a thickness preselected to permit manual constriction thereof whereby the circumferential width of said longitudinal openings and the internal diameter of said cylindrical portions are decreased, and said flat portion having a preselected thickness substantially greater than the thickness of said cylindrical portions whereby said flat portion is rigid.

2. A blank for use in forming a pair of elongated dispensers having a generally C-shaped transverse cross section and a toothed tearing edge for dispensing discrete portions of a rolled sheet, comprising a sheet of resilient material having a first longitudinal edge, a constrictible split tubular portion extending from said edge, a first connecting portion continuing from said split tubular portion and defining with said longitudinal edge a longitudinally extending opening, a mid-portion continuing from said connecting portion and extending outwardly away from said split tubular portion, said mid-portion having a preselected width equal to at least twice the width of the tearing edges of the dispensers whereby said portion ma be severed longitudinally to define concurrently each of, the toothed edge portions, a second longitudinal edge parallel to and spaced from said first longitudinal edge, a second constrictible split tubular portion extending from said second edge, andfa second connecting portion continuing from said second split tubular portion and defining with said second longitudinal edge a longitudinally extending opening, said second connecting portion joining with said mid-portion to extend the mid-portion outwardly away from the axis of the second split tubular portion, said tubular portions having a thickness preselected to permit manual constriction thereof whereby the circumferential width of said longitudinal openings and the internal diameter of said tubular portions are decreased, and said mid-portion having a preselected thickness substantially greater than the thickness of said tubular portions whereby said mid-portion is rigid.

3. The blank of claim 2 wherein said sheet is formed of a plastic material such as polystyrene.

4. The blank of claim 2 wherein said tubular portions have a thickness in the order of .025" and said midportion has a thickness in the order of .035".

5. The blank of claim 2 wherein said connecting portions have a preselected thickness substantially greater than that of said tubular portions whereby said connecting portions are rigid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,754,466 Hosking Apr. 15, 1930 1,952,431 Gluck et al Mar. 27, 1934 2,396,635 Bogoslowsky Mar. 19, 1946 2,618,845 Quarnstrom Nov. 25, 1952 2,641,318 Brody June 9, 1953 2,645,816 Trussell July 21, 1953 2,688,181 Livermont Sept. 7, 1954 2,764,804 Arness Oct. 2, 1956 2,820,252 Koch Jan. 21, 1958 2,834,054 Maddock May 13, 1958 2,848,046 Castelli Aug. 19, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,553 Great Britain of 1893 399,177 Italy Oct. 20, 1942 713,629 Great Britain Aug. 11, 1954 

